What are the side effects of licorice?
Licorice is a common Chinese medicinal material widely used in food, medicine and health products. Although licorice has many medicinal benefits, long-term or excessive use may cause some side effects. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days to analyze the potential side effects of licorice in detail, and provide structured data for readers' reference.
1. Main side effects of licorice
The main active ingredients of licorice are glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid. These ingredients may cause the following side effects when consumed in excess:
| side effects | Specific performance | high risk groups |
|---|---|---|
| high blood pressure | Increased blood pressure, headache, dizziness | Hypertensive patients, the elderly |
| hypokalemia | Muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat | People who take diuretics for a long time |
| Edema | Swelling of limbs and weight gain | People with renal insufficiency |
| Hormone disorders | Irregular menstruation and gynecomastia | Endocrine disease patients |
2. Scientific basis for side effects of licorice
According to recent research data, the glycyrrhizic acid in licorice inhibits the activity of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the body, leading to an increase in cortisol levels, thereby causing an increase in blood pressure and electrolyte imbalance. The following is a summary of relevant research in the past 10 days:
| research institute | Research content | Key findings |
|---|---|---|
| Peking University School of Medicine | Effect of glycyrrhizic acid on blood pressure | Daily intake of more than 50 mg of glycyrrhizic acid can lead to significant increases in blood pressure |
| Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine | The relationship between licorice and potassium metabolism | After taking licorice preparations for 2 weeks, the blood potassium level dropped by an average of 0.3mmol/L. |
| National Center for Food Safety | Safety limits of licorice in food | It is recommended that the daily intake of glycyrrhizic acid does not exceed 30mg |
3. How to use licorice safely
To avoid the side effects of licorice, it is recommended to take the following measures:
1.Control dose: The daily intake of licorice should not exceed 5 grams (containing approximately 30mg glycyrrhizic acid).
2.short term use: Continuous use of licorice preparations should not exceed 4 weeks.
3.Pay attention to compatibility: Avoid simultaneous use with diuretics and antihypertensive drugs.
4.Use with caution for special groups: Pregnant women, patients with high blood pressure, and patients with kidney disease should use it under the guidance of a doctor.
4. Recent hot discussions about licorice
According to the hot spot monitoring of the entire network in the past 10 days, the following are the main topics about licorice:
| Platform | Topic popularity | main focus |
|---|---|---|
| #Can licorice soaked in water be drunk for a long time?# | Discussing the safe ways to drink licorice tea | |
| Zhihu | "Side effects of licorice tablets for cough relief" | Analyze the potential risks of compound licorice tablets |
| Douyin | "Traditional Chinese medicine reveals the taboos of licorice" | The popular science video has been viewed more than 2 million times |
5. Summary
Although licorice is a safe and effective traditional Chinese medicine, you must be aware of its potential side effects. By controlling the dosage, avoiding long-term use and paying attention to medication safety for special groups, the medicinal value of licorice can be maximized while reducing the occurrence of adverse reactions. It is recommended to consult a professional physician before using licorice products, especially for patients with underlying medical conditions.
Finally, readers are reminded that there have been exaggerated claims on the Internet recently about "licorice anti-cancer". These claims lack sufficient scientific basis. They should maintain a rational attitude and do not blindly follow the trend.
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